Franca Out of UFC Fight Night Main Event

Hermes
Franca has bowed out of the main event tilt against Joe Lauzon at
UFC Fight Night 17 on Feb. 7 at the USF Sun Dome in Tampa, Fla.
Franca announced Monday that he’d torn the anterior crucial
ligament in his right knee on the popular Underground Forum at
mixedmartialarts.com.

Lauzon has been notified of Franca’s withdrawal by UFC officials,
but has not been offered a new opponent yet for the lightweight
bout, confirmed a member of his Bridgewater, Mass., camp on Monday
evening. Franca did not answer calls for comment.

The injury comes at an inopportune time for the Brazilian
immigrant. Posting losses to former champion Sean Sherk and
Frankie
Edgar in 2007 and 2008, Franca (19-7) got himself back on track
with a unanimous decision win over former teammate Marcus
Aurelio at UFC 90 in October.

Lauzon (17-4) has posted seven wins in eight fights, losing only to
the world-ranked Kenny
Florian in that time span. A product of season five of “The
Ultimate Fighter” reality series, the 24-year-old has never gone to
a decision in 21 professional bouts.

Lauzon last appeared at UFC Fight Night 15 in September, when he
stopped Kyle Bradley
on second-round strikes. He has secured 13 of his 17 career wins by
submission and holds victories against former UFC lightweight
champion Jens Pulver
and reigning World Extreme Cagefighting featherweight titleholder
Mike
Thomas Brown.

In another pivotal lightweight battle on the card, Mac Danzig,
season six winner of “The Ultimate Fighter, will square off with
the durable Josh Neer, as
the UFC makes its first stop in the Sunshine State since June
2007.